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EP-3945882-B1 - FLAVOR CARRIERS FOR ELECTRONIC VAPING DEVICE

EP3945882B1EP 3945882 B1EP3945882 B1EP 3945882B1EP-3945882-B1

Inventors

  • HAWES, ERIC
  • KIRZHNER, Dmitriy S.
  • PITHAWALLA, YEZDI
  • ROSTAMI, ALI A.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20200326

Claims (11)

  1. A cartridge (105) of an electronic vaping device (10), the cartridge (105) comprising: an outer cartridge housing (120) extending in a longitudinal direction; a vaporizer (162) in the outer cartridge housing (120); and a flavor carrier (760) in the outer cartridge housing (120), the flavor carrier (760) including, an outer flavor carrier housing (765) extending in a longitudinal direction, the outer flavor carrier housing (765) including, an outer flavor carrier housing wall (775) defining at least one outer flavor carrier housing perforation (770); an inner flavor carrier housing (780) extending in the longitudinal direction, the inner flavor carrier housing (780) coaxial with the outer flavor carrier housing (765), the outer flavor carrier housing (765) and the inner flavor carrier housing (780) defining a flavor chamber (790), the flavor chamber (790) configured to contain a flavoring material (795), the inner flavor carrier housing (780) including, an inner flavor carrier housing wall (792) defining at least one inner flavor carrier housing perforation (785), wherein the vaporizer (162) is configured to generate a vapor and wherein, in use, vapor generated by the vaporizer flows through the flavor chamber (790), and wherein the flavor carrier (760) further comprises: a cover (1100) at an end of the flavor carrier (760), wherein the cover (1100) is configured to secure the flavor carrier (760) within the cartridge (105), the outer flavor carrier housing (765) having a smaller outer diameter than an inner diameter of the outer cartridge housing (120), and wherein the flavor carrier (760) is between the vaporizer (162) and a mouth end of the cartridge (105).
  2. The cartridge (105) of claim 1, further comprising a mouthpiece (800) at a first end of the outer cartridge housing (120).
  3. The cartridge (105) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the cover (1100) defines a channel (1110) therein, the channel (1110) in fluid communication with an air passage defined by the inner flavor carrier housing (780).
  4. The cartridge (105) of claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising a cover (1200) at a second end of the flavor carrier (760).
  5. The cartridge (105) of claim 4, wherein the cover (1200) at the second end is a gasket (1200), the gasket (1200) being substantially impermeable to vapor.
  6. The cartridge (105) of any preceding claim, wherein the outer flavor carrier housing wall (775) and the inner flavor carrier housing wall (792) each have a thickness ranging from about 0.5 millimetres to about 1.5 millimetres.
  7. The cartridge (105) of any preceding claim, further comprising a reservoir (155) configured to hold a pre-vapor formulation.
  8. The cartridge (105) of claim 7, wherein the vaporizer (162) comprises a wick (160) configured to wick the pre-vapor formulation from the reservoir (155) and a heating element (165) configured to heat the pre-vapor formulation to form a vapor.
  9. The cartridge (105) of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one inner flavor carrier housing perforation (785) is aligned with the at least one outer flavor carrier housing perforation (770).
  10. The cartridge (105) of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the at least one inner flavor carrier housing perforation (785) is not aligned with the at least one outer flavor carrier housing perforation (770).
  11. An electronic vaping device (10, 10') comprising: a cartridge (105) according to any of claims 1 to 10.

Description

The present disclosure relates to an electronic vaping device including a flavor carrier. WO 2018/122380 A1 discloses a hybrid e-vaping cartridge 70 including an outer housing 6. The hybrid cartridge 70 defines a central air passage 20. The hybrid cartridge 70 defines a central air passage 20 in communication with another air path 20a that allows a flow of air to persist within the cartridge 70. Specifically, the central air passage 20 is defined by an end tube 210 held in place by a connector 205. A heater 14 with a wick 28 are positioned near an end of the tube 210 to communicate with the tube 210. An inner tube 4 helps define an inner annulus 4b, where the inner annulus 4b is in communication with an outer annulus area 6a. An end of the inner tube 4 is affixed to a proximal end 205b of the connector 205 by being pressed over the proximal end 205b so that the inner tube 4 compresses the proximal end 205b. The other end of the inner tube 4 is connected to a mouth-end insert 9 of the cartridge 70. A central tube 8 is compression-fitted over an end of the tube 210, where an end of the tube 8 is pressed against the mouth-end insert 9 in order to cause the central tube 8 to define an air path 20a in communication with the central air passage 20. One or more layers of absorbent gauze, high density gauze, sponge, or another suitable form of fibrous absorbent material, are positioned within the inner tube 4 in order to also assist in defining the air path 20a. An annulus area 6a configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation 22 is defined between the outer housing 6 and the inner tube 4. One or more holes 4a within the inner tube 4 allow the pre-vapor formulation 22 to be communicated between the annulus area 6a and an inner annulus area 4b defined in part by the inner tube 4, the central tube 8, the connector 205 and a mouth- end insert 9. Ends of the wick 28 extend away from the heater 14 and through holes 8a within the central tube 8, in order to be in communication with the inner annulus area 4b. The wick 28 is configured to draw a pre-vapor formulation 22 from the inner annulus 4b towards the heater 14 so that the heater may vaporize the pre-vapor formulation 22 when the cartridge 70 is in operation. US 2018/368474 A1 discloses a flavor cartridge that may include a flavor housing and a flavor matrix within the flavor housing, where the flavor housing further includes a plurality of perforations configured to direct air to flow in fluid communication with the flavor matrix. The flavor cartridge includes an outer housing and an outlet-end insert coupled to an outlet end of the outer housing. The flavor cartridge is configured to receive a generated vapor into a tip end of the outer housing, convert the generated vapor into a flavored vapor, and enable the flavored vapor to exit the flavor cartridge as flavored vapor via the outlet-end insert. The outer housing encloses a flavor housing that defines a central channel and an inner annular space. The flavor housing further defines an outer annular space between the flavor housing and the outer housing. The flavor housing includes an inner structure and an outer structure. The outer structure extends around the inner structure, such that the inner structure and the outer structure collectively define an inner annular space. The flavor housing includes a flavor matrix within the inner annular space. An electronic vaping or e-vaping device can include a heating element that vaporizes a pre-vapor formulation to produce a vapor. An e-vaping device can further include a power supply, such as a rechargeable battery, arranged in the device. The power supply is electrically connected to the heating element. The power supply provides power to the heating element such that the heating element heats to a temperature sufficient to convert the pre-vapor formulation to a vapor. The vapor exits the e-vaping device through an outlet. At least one example embodiment relates to a cartridge of an electronic vaping device. According to the present invention there is provided a cartridge of an electronic vaping device including an outer cartridge housing extending in a longitudinal direction, a vaporizer in the outer cartridge housing, and a flavor carrier in the outer cartridge housing. The flavor carrier includes an outer housing extending in a longitudinal direction, an inner housing extending in the longitudinal direction, and a flavor chamber between the outer housing and the inner housing. The outer housing includes at least one outer housing perforation defined in a wall of the outer housing. The inner housing is coaxial with the outer housing. The inner housing includes at least one inner housing perforation defined in a wall of the inner housing. The flavor chamber is configured to contain a flavoring material. The vaporizer is configured to generate a vapor. In use, vapor generated by the vaporizer flows through the flavor chamber. The flavor carrier further comprises a cover